Understanding the Green Home Market: A Guide for Real Estate Appraisers
Technology has revolutionized the real estate industry by introducing mobile apps that allow individuals to rent out their space and find new homes through social media feeds. With the aid of these apps and other technological advancements, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents can expedite the marketing and transaction process with ease. Furthermore, technology has proven to be advantageous for real estate investors, which continually advances the industry.
U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated through LEED, the world’s most widely-used green building system with more than 100,000 buildings participating today. You can find info on the LEED rating system, search their online directory, and find helpful articles at USGBC.org.
Green Building Registry
The Green Building Registry® (GBR) is a web-based platform that provides home performance data to real estate agents, appraisers, lenders, and homeowners across the U.S. You can search by property address, neighborhood, city, county, or zip code to pull up real-time data on home energy labels, solar installations, and green building certifications. The platform features filters that allow appraisers to narrow the results for home comparison purposes, and many of the homes listed contain the Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum. GBR data can also be integrated into your MLS.
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
Is another excellent resource for understanding the green home market. DSIRE® is the most comprehensive source of info on policies and incentives that support renewable energy and energy efficiency. It’s operated by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at North Carolina State University and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. With just one click, you can pull up a list of all current “green” policies and incentives in your state.
Residential Energy Services Network
Another great resource is the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) -an independent non-profit organization. One that develops national standards for energy-efficiency rating and certification systems in the United States. The RESNET National Registry is a valuable source of info for builders, consumers, utility programs, and appraisers. This online registry allows you to search for HERS-rated homes by property address.
